Four Tutelary Deities of Mount Koya

16th century

The kami (Shinto deity) of Mount Koya, Koya Myojin is depicted at the upper left as a courtier in black. When founder of Shingon Esoteric Buddhism Kukai (774–835) was in search of a place to establish his monastery, he was led by Koya Myojin to Mount Koya. Kukai also met Niu Myojin, the goddess of Mount Koya depicted at the upper right, who granted him the land. In the 14th century, two more Shinto deities, Itsukushima (lower left) and Kehi Myojin (lower right), were enshrined—the four together become known as the Four Deities of Mount Koya. As with other Buddhist traditions before it, Shingon Buddhism incorporated local gods. The story of Shingon Buddhism’s founding is also a founding story of Mount Koya as sacred site.

Ink and color on silk

Image: 34 1/4 × 14 1/8 in. (87 × 35.8 cm)

Overall: 73 7/16 × 19 13/16 in. (186.5 × 50.3 cm); with knobs: 73 7/16 × 22 7/16 in. (186.5 × 57 cm)

Eugene Fuller Memorial Collection

33.1693

Photo: Spike Mafford

Not currently on view

Resources

Exhibition HistorySeattle, Washington, Seattle Art Museum, Rabbit, Cat and Horse; Endearing Creatures in Japanese Art, Dec. 21, 2002 - Mar. 16, 2003.

Seattle, Washington, Seattle Asian Art Museum, Legends, Tales, Poetry: Visual Narrative in Japanese Art, Dec. 22, 2012 - Jul. 21, 2013.

Seattle, Washington, Seattle Art Museum, Noble Splendor: Art of Japanese Aristocrats, Jul. 28, 2018 - Mar. 3, 2019.

Seattle, Washington, Seattle Asian Art Museum, Boundless: Stories of Asian Art, Feb. 8, 2020 - ongoing [on view beginning Jan. 13, 2023].

Seattle Art Museum respectfully acknowledges that we are on Indigenous land, the traditional territories of the Coast Salish people. We honor our ongoing connection to these communities past, present, and future.

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